Program areas at Modjeska Simkins School for Human Rights
The Modjeska Simkins School for Human Rights teaches effective citizenship through one-hour introductions to SC peoples' history, to 40 hour courses that span four months. Our annual March through June session graduated 36 students, from 12 towns in 2023, the majority of attendants being in person. Broadcasting live short courses on various civic and social issues reached 240 participants with 3,600 more being reached through membership mailings, and more through our multiple social media outlets in 2023.
The Grass Roots Organizing Workshop (GROW), serves as "the intersection of activism, art and education" for the SC Progressive Network's successful effort to reach across race, gender and class lines to foster and support the "radical revolution of values" that Dr. King called for. The Modjeska School's peoples' history lessons reached well over 800 students for short and long classes in 2023. The 3,600 subscribers to our bimonthly e-newsletter receive links to presentations and invitations for live streaming. The bi-monthly Jazz Workshops bring in an older Black crowd and frequent, diverse musical programs bring in different generations. Meetings at GROW, by faith, labor, and community based organizations reached over 2,000 people, encouraging participation in our programing. GROW's multi-media messaging reached over 6,400 in 2023.
The DemocraSC campaign produces research and analysis about SC's government and its governance. The work is distilled to be accessible and relevant to citizens of all walks of life. SC's true history, that we study and teach, informs our nonpartisan work to improve the lives of SC working people today. The campaign's civic education work includes our Election Protection training, Effective Citizenship skill sessions and our Missing Voter Project that addresses the state's under-represented communities. Workshops, webinars, blog posts and e-news, school, church and civic organization visits reached over 4,000 in 2023.